5 Best Wedding Venues in Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC is one of the most stunning and versatile places for couples looking to tie the knot. From the Southern charm of downtown, to the live oaks, Spanish moss, and beautiful flowers of a plantation, there are so many incredible places to make your dream wedding day a reality. In fact, it can be slightly overwhelming! In this post, I’ll be highlighting 5 of my favorite venues in the Charleston area. Happy wedding planning!

Boone Hall (1235 Long Point Rd. Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 29464)

This stunning venue makes the top of my list because of its absolutely beautiful oak alley, which you can see above. Isn’t that just breathtaking!? Boone Hall is one of America’s oldest working farms, and fun fact–it was one of the filming locations for the Notebook! There aren’t any getting ready spaces on site, but you’re very close to some of the stunning beach house Airbnbs in Isle of Palms, as well as downtown Charleston. There are several beautiful locations for your ceremony–in front of the historic home, in the oak alley, and more. The reception space is absolutely stunning–the Cotton Dock has a large fireplace, ample room for dancing and a seated dinner, cocktail hour on the patio, and a picturesque dock overlooking the river.

Lowndes Grove (266 St Margaret St, Charleston, SC 29403)

Lowndes Grove is quite frankly hard to beat! It’s an absolutely beautiful wedding venue located on the banks of the Ashley River in Charleston. The venue features stunning views of the river, as well as a beautiful lawn and gardens that provide the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony and reception (the trees are incredible!). Fun fact–this is Sarah Cameron’s house in the show Outer Banks!

At Lowndes Grove, you can say your vows on the lawn, in front of the dock, or on the side of the main house. The space can accommodate up to 250 guests and is so timeless and elegant. The lawn and gardens are equally impressive and can accommodate up to 400 guests for a seated dinner. There are endless beautiful photo locations throughout the property, and I highly recommend adding on a bridal session or engagement session on site!

Gadsden House (38 Alexander St, Charleston, SC 29401)

The Gadsden House is a historic mansion located in downtown Charleston, and it might have the best bridal suite in the area. Teeming with natural light and all the little touches, this is the perfect place to start your wedding day!

The courtyard at the Gadsden House is perfect for your ceremony, cocktail hour, dancing, dinner–really anything you can think of The house itself is absolutely stunning and perfect to keep a seated dinner nice and cool indoors. The space can accommodate up to 200 guests and features beautiful brickwork, fountains, and lush greenery. The grand ballrooms are equally impressive and can accommodate up to 150 guests for a seated dinner.

Middleton Place (4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414)

Middleton Place is a stunning venue about 45 minutes from downtown Charleston. The venue features stunning gardens, a beautiful house, and several outdoor spaces that provide the perfect backdrop for a wedding ceremony and reception. The gardens at Middleton Place are magical, and feature beautiful flowers, water features, and sweeping lawns.

There’s no official getting ready space on site, so it’s a great idea to book a hotel or Airbnb in downtown Charleston before you head over to Middleton Place (what an amazing excuse to rent a vintage bus or car!). There are many choices for your ceremony site–my favorite is the Octagonal Garden. The pavilion is perfect for your reception, or you could also opt for a tent. The sheep & horses are a sweet touch to your wedding day!

Magnolia Plantation (3550 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414)

Magnolia Plantation is another absolutely stunning venue choice about 45 minutes from downtown Charleston. There are SO many different choices for your ceremony, reception, and photos–it boasts one of the largest gardens in the area, with a beautiful white bridge, live oaks and Spanish moss, a bamboo garden, a conservatory, a lawn overlooking the river (perfect for a tented reception!), and more. There are two small getting ready spaces on site, but due to size and lighting constraints, it may be better to get ready at an Airbnb in downtown Charleston.

These are only a handful of my favorite venues in the Charleston area, and any one of them would be an absolutely unforgettable location for your destination wedding day! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about 5 of the best venues in Charleston. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions!